I decided that, with my first attempt, the card was lacking something. It wasn't that the design wasn't good, it just needed something to reference it on the card. So I went back to the drawing board and added a third color. A wash layer to the back of it, if you will. I like it. I believe it improves the design.Apart from the design though, I am still having issues. First, I am mixing my own colors and having never really done this before, it is giving me trouble. Mostly with the ink being too thin...plus red is such a hard color anyway. So as, you can tell, my back pattern is bleeding through my red. And with some of the cards, after the red ink has been laid it has bled into the letters. As I mentioned before, registration is still a bugger, I had many more turn out correct this time, but some of them were still off. I also wonder if my green is too dark, because I feel I am losing some of the silver. Lastly, I am simply not being careful enough. 5 of the 13 cards I did this run have some sort of smudge on them.
I am learning huge amounts about screen printing, more and more each time. And even with the struggles and less than perfect performance/outcome I am having a great amount of fun in the process. Which is what I have really needed all along.
3 comments:
are you using the Yudu inks or are you using other inks (like speedball?) - I always use t-shirt inks EVEN on paper.
Side note... do you have a laser printer or how are you doing your computer stuff for exposure. Maybe I should just look it up. hehehe
Let me answer in reverse...I have been using inkjet transparencies to print my artwork. And when I go through the exposure process I just make sure that the ink side of the transparency doesn't have to touch the emulsion side of the screen. I was worried that the light might bleed through, but I have yet to have a problem. My screens always seem to come out solid. I have also laid cut vinyl straight to the glass top of my Yudu. That has worked great for exposure as well.
(Question: Do you know of anywhere that sells 11x17 transparencies, inkjet or laser?)
As for the inks, this is where a lot of my trial and error learning came up (I hope this isn't too confusing). For all three attempts (I gave the cards another run, that I haven't blogged about yet)the silver ink has been Yudu. The red and the green have been a number of things. I have used Speedball Acrylic, Liquitex Acrylic, generic craft acrylic and Yudu Inks. When I started mixing I tried to keep brands separate. But in my last attempt it was kind of a free-for-all, whatever would get me the color and consistency I wanted.
The Yudu ink is really heavy so it is easier to control in my opinion, but you have to put out a lot of money for it. I won't use generic acrylic again. Speedball was good, but so was the Liquitex. I am leaning to Liquitex. Mostly because, for me, I can get it locally. But neither really save me money...they are the same price as a single bottle of Yudu ink, but when you buy Yudu you have to buy in a three pack.
This project has been a HUGE (and sadly expensive) learning experience for me (I wish I would have taken print making back in school). But it has given me confidence to keep at it.
Do you have a Yudu?
Hmm.... good to know. Susan made us use laser print outs... because inkjet let light through. interesting...
I would try Xpedx off 3300 South for the larger paper.
I have a bunch of leftover Speedball ink. I can understand the consistency/control issue. I never had that problem, but I was always using a giant frame...
And... not yet, but anticipating. ;)
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